Rejected by Moonlight: Second Moon, Second Chance

Lila's lungs ached as she ran through the forest. The third scout's howl rang in her ears, sharp and spooky. It sliced through the night. It struck her heart like a knife. Trees blurred into a dark, endless tunnel around her. Their branches scratched her face and arms. They tugged like echoes of her past desperate to pull her back. Her shoulder pulsed with pain. Jaxon's claw marks stung steady from his betrayal. The blood-crusted knife weighed heavy in her hand. It grew harder to hold with each step. Kade sprinted ahead. His gray eyes darted through the shadows. His breaths stayed even, controlled even in the craziness chasing them. She locked onto his shape, a lifeline in the mess. Her bare feet slammed against the rough ground. Pain shot through her bruised body. Jaxon's pack closed in, fueled by his anger. Their howls wove a trap she couldn't break free from.

"Faster!" Kade snapped. His voice pierced her tiredness. He turned left toward a ravine. It barely showed in the faint moonlight. The drop loomed ahead. Its edges looked rough with stones and tangled roots. She stumbled after him. Her legs shook beneath her. The forest floor glistened wet with dew, slick under her soles. The howls grew louder, closer. They pressed against her chest like a tightening grip. She swore she felt Jaxon's gold eyes burning into her back. His rejection still ripped at her soul, a scar deeper than the cuts on her skin.

Her thoughts broke apart under the strain. She'd killed tonight. She'd driven a knife into a wolf's chest. She'd felt its blood coat her hands. That moment stuck to her, a dark stain she couldn't wash off. She'd once been a healer in the pack, gentle and good with wounds. Now she was a killer, a rogue, a mom-to-be running to live. She leaned on a stranger's word to guide her through this nightmare. Her hand pressed against her belly. She felt the slight curve there. It held her to a weak hope in the storm. She silently swore through her tears. I won't let you die. The path ahead blurred as her eyes watered.

Kade's shout snapped her focus back. "Ravine's ahead. Stay sharp!" He slowed near the edge. Gravel crunched under his boots. A river yelled below. Its waters ran dark and wild. It smashed against rocks that shone like teeth in the moonlight. A shaky bridge stretched across the gap. Old planks tied with worn rope swayed in the breeze, weak and unsteady. Lila's gut dropped as she looked down. The steep fall ended in the river's hungry jaws, eager to grab her.

"We're crossing," Kade stated. His tone left no room for argument. He stepped onto the bridge first. He tested it careful. The wood creaked under his weight. It groaned loud. "Move quick. They're right on our tail."

She swallowed hard. She nodded. Her fingers tightened around the knife. Her knuckles turned pale. She followed him onto the bridge. It wobbled beneath her. The ropes groaned with every step she took. The whole thing felt ready to fall apart any second. The howls behind them sharpened. Three voices sounded now, maybe four. The pack hunted with cruel skill. They closed the gap fast. She glanced back. Her green eyes widened with fear. Dark shapes moved through the trees. Their amber stares glowed like sparks in the night. A sob rose in her throat, sharp and painful. She forced it down. She knew tears wouldn't help. Only speed might save her now.

Halfway across, the bridge jerked hard. A plank broke beneath her foot with a loud snap. She lurched forward. She grabbed the rope with her free hand. Pain flared through her shoulder. The bandage turned red again. Kade's arm caught her. He steadied her quick. "Keep going," he growled. His grip stayed strong. His gray eyes met hers, fierce and steadying. "You're not falling here."

She nodded quiet. Her breath came ragged. She pushed on. The river's yell rang loud in her ears. The bridge rocked. Ropes thinned with every move they made. They were nearly across, ten feet left, then five. A growl burst out too close. It hit her like a punch. It froze her blood. She turned her head. Her heart raced. A big brown wolf landed on the bridge from the ravine's edge. It was Jaxon's beta, loyal to Tara now. Its weight buckled the structure. Planks split apart like dry sticks. Lila screamed as the bridge tilted wild beneath her.

"Lila!" Kade yelled. He reached for her. The bridge gave out complete then. Ropes snapped with a loud twang. Wood creaked and broke apart. She fell. The knife slipped from her hand. It tumbled away. She flailed. She grabbed at nothing until her fingers caught a loose rope. It burned her palms as she held on. She dangled above the raging water. Her shoulder yelled with pain. Her legs swung over the drop. Above her, the brown wolf growled. It slashed at Kade. He clung to the bridge's broken edge. His muscles stretched tight as he fought to stay on.

Her heart hammered against her chest, wild and loud. She glanced down at the river below. Mist curled up from its surface, cold and tempting. It whispered an end to her fight, her fear, her run. For a brief second, she saw Tom's face reflected there. His warm smile shone. His dark hair blew messy in the breeze. He'd been the human who loved her before Jaxon took her. Hunters had killed him. They left her with this child, this load, this struggle. Tears rolled down her face, hot against the night's chill. She whispered his name, soft and broken. "Tom… I can't do this alone."

She wasn't alone yet, though. Kade's yell pulled her back to the moment. It sounded deep and fierce. It overpowered the river's noise. He pulled himself onto the bridge's remains. Claws burst out as he shifted. Gray fur covered him fast. It rippled over his body. He charged the brown wolf. Their bodies clashed in a storm of teeth and claws. Blood sprayed across the shattered wood as they fought. The wolf yelped when Kade bit into its side. He tore off a piece of flesh. It struck back. It raked Kade's ribs with a claw. It drew a grunt from him.

Lila's arms shook. The rope slid through her bloody hands. She couldn't hold on much longer. Her strength drained fast. Her shoulder felt like fire. Agony burned through her. Kade's voice broke through the noise, loud and urgent. "Climb, damn it! Now!"

A switch flipped inside her, not giving up but fighting. She clenched her jaw. Her muscles shook as she pulled herself up. The rope cut into her palms, inch by painful inch. Her baby deserved better than a cold death in the river. She deserved better than Jaxon's win. She let out a raw shout. She dragged herself onto the ravine's far side. She fell there. She sucked in air. Her chest heaved hard.

Above her, Kade shoved the brown wolf toward the bridge's edge. His gray form moved with mad speed. He rammed his shoulder into the beast. He sent it over with a howl. It splashed into the water below. It vanished in a flash. The win didn't last long. A second wolf leapt from the dark. Its claws slashed Kade's back. Blood flew from the cuts. He yelled. He spun to face it, but the bridge creaked dangerous. Its last ropes strained, ready to snap.

"Lila, run!" Kade yelled. His voice sounded rough with panic. He wrestled with the new wolf. He struggled to hold it back. She got to her feet. Her legs felt heavy as rocks. Her eyes stayed fixed on him. He fought for her, for them both. She couldn't leave him like this. Before she could move, a third shape came from the shadows. It was a sleek black wolf. Its amber eyes gleamed cold and mean. It pounced. It knocked Kade off the bridge's edge. They fell together, a mess of fur and growls. They disappeared into the ravine's dark water.

"No!" Lila screamed. Her voice broke apart. She rushed to the edge. Her hands dug into the dirt. The river churned below. It hid them in its depths. Her chest locked up. A sob tore free. She cried not just for Kade, but for herself, for her child she'd promised to save. He'd rescued her, patched her up, fought for her. Now he was lost to the river. Tears mixed with blood and mud on her face. She pressed a shaky hand to her belly. She whispered into the wind. "I'm sorry… I'm so sorry."

The howls quieted. The pack pulled back, or maybe regrouped, she couldn't tell. A heavy silence fell. Only the river's mad rumble broke it. She stared into the blackness below. Her heart lay in pieces. She waited for any sign Kade had made it, any ripple or sound. The water stayed quiet. It kept its secrets. She was alone again. Jaxon's wolves still hunted her. Her fingers curled into the soil. Her will toughened through the sadness. She'd lost her mate, her pack, and now Kade tonight. She wouldn't lose herself, not yet.